City & Local

Local Control

3 articles

Editorial illustration for Why Chicago Has No Rent Control: The 1997 State Law Behind the Debate
Real Estate

Why Chicago Has No Rent Control: The 1997 State Law Behind the Debate

Chicago cannot enact rent control because of the 1997 Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act, which prohibits municipalities from implementing such measures. The debate over rent control in Chicago thus centers on repealing this state-level ban, with arguments for and against focusing on housing affordability, tenant stability, and economic impacts.

Aaron Blake·November 8, 2026
Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King testifying before a GOP-led U.S. House Committee regarding district gender and sexuality policies.
Best in City

CPS CEO Faces Questions on Gender, Sexuality Policies

Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King faced a GOP-led U.

Hannah Pierce·June 13, 2026
Diverse community members actively participating in a local meeting, symbolizing the power of local input over distant, centralized government decisions.
Community

Top-Down Reorganizations Fail Communities; Local Input Is The Only Fix

When decisions about our national forests and local services are made in distant capital buildings, the results are often costly and ineffective. Here's why local community input is the only way forward.

Derek Molina·April 5, 2026